WINNIPEG, May 15, 2014 /CNW/ - With the release of its investigation report (A12C0154) on the loss of control and collision with terrain of a Cessna 208B near
the airport in Snow Lake, Manitoba, the Transportation Safety Board of
Canada (TSB) today again reminds pilots that overloaded aircraft and
any amount of ice on an aircraft's wings present risks to passengers,
crew and equipment.

On 18 November 2012, a Cessna 208B operated by Gogal Air Services Ltd.
left Snow Lake en route to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Shortly after takeoff,
the aircraft descended and struck the terrain in a wooded area
approximately 1 mile beyond the end of the runway. The pilot did not
survive, and the 7 passengers were seriously injured.

The TSB investigation found that the aircraft was approximately 600
pounds over its maximum gross takeoff weight limit and that the wing
and tail leading edges were contaminated with ice. These factors had
the combined effect of increasing the stall speed of the aircraft,
reducing its takeoff and climb performance, and impairing the
protection afforded by its stall warning system. As well, the
investigation found that that the aircraft had likely been operating in
instrument meteorological conditions on the day before the accident,
conditions for which Gogal Air Services was not authorized.

Gogal Air Services is a charter air operator and is certified to offer a
non-scheduled air service. However, the report notes that a part of the
company's flight operations — moving mine workers between Winnipeg and
the mine at Snow Lake — had some of the features of repetitive charter
operations (such as scheduled service). These operations incur
additional risks, such as customer expectations of performance in
various weather conditions. In spite of these risks, Transport Canada
does not provide the same degree of oversight as it does for a
scheduled operator. Because of this, the risks in the operator's
activities may not be fully evaluated.

The TSB is an independent agency that investigates marine, pipeline,
railway and aviation transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the
advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the
Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.